The Los Angeles Lakers (28-18) face the Washington Wizards (12-34) Friday in Washington, DC. Tip-off from Capital One Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NBA odds around the Lakers vs. Wizards odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

The Lakers are weighing frontcourt upgrades ahead of the trade deadline, with Suns center Nick Richards emerging as a low-risk option.

One year since the trade that rocked the NBA, Slovenia clearly has a new favorite team — it wears purple and gold. In Slovenia, viewership of the Los Angeles Lakers on NBA League Pass grew 955% — yes,

Luka Doncic had 33 points and 11 assists, and the Lakers erased a 15-point deficit in the final seven minutes of a 116-110 victory over the Mavericks in the star guard’s second visit to Dallas since his shocking trade to Los Angeles almost a year ago.

In the first All-Star game of its kind, the NBA ditched the East-West format and let the two leading vote earners choose their teams. During the final season of his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers,

De’Andre Hunter added 19 points, and Jarrett Allen had 17 points and nine rebounds to help Cleveland to its season-best fifth straight victory. James had only 11 points, the first time in 13 trips to Cleveland as an opposing player he has not had at least 20.

BOTTOM LINE: New York is looking to continue its five-game win streak with a victory over Los Angeles. The Knicks have gone 19-6 in home games. New York is third in the NBA with 13.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Mitchell Robinson averaging 4.9 offensive boards.

The Los Angeles Lakers might still be in the running to land Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade.

Dončić scored 11 of the Lakers' first 20 points and assisted on two Deandre Ayton baskets on his way to finishing the first quarter with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists as the Lakers scored 41 points in the opening 12 minutes.